Winchester Model 70 with 3.0" OAL request for opinions, recommendations to rejuvenate
Friends:
I have a 70s to 80s Winchester model 70 whose round count I don't know. It's chambered in 243 Winchester. I used the Sinclair Gage to determine an OAL of 3". Then I prepared a dummy round and it chambers easily. Now this seems like a very long cartridge especially because the 88 grain FB Berger is held by it's last 2 mm on the case neck.
My question is this: Would you re-barrel the rifle? Would you shoot it with this OAL and that tiny neck grip area? I know the rifle has a 1:10 twist. What steps would you take to rejuvenate it? (Such as what new barrel to put on, twist etc.)
A friend just suggested re-barreling to 308 Win which might afford a longer barrel life and other advantages. I wanted to use this rifle in hunter class.
You need a rifle that you can put a hole in the ten ring every shot. Never mind about what it is or how it loads or how it looks...how it shoots is the only thing important.
I don't know much about hunter class but R.G. Robinette is a hunter class guru....maybe he'll chime in.
has a reputation for throat and barrel erosion due to its large powder capacity vs. bore diameter and shallow shoulder angle. Can you find someone with a borescope....a Gradient...that you can inspect the barrel with? If its been shot a lot it may be time for a new barrel.
I'm considering re-barreling the rifle as I suspect the throat has deteriorated. My options are 308 Win, 6.5 Creedmore or 30 X 47. How well does the Creedmore group at 200-300 yards? I've heard it needs some distance before it stabilizes. Is this so? Someone please educate me.
I'm considering re-barreling the rifle as I suspect the throat has deteriorated. My options are 308 Win, 6.5 Creedmore or 30 X 47. How well does the Creedmore group at 200-300 yards? I've heard it needs some distance before it stabilizes. Is this so? Someone please educate me.
you have to form 30x47 cases from either .308 win or 6.5x47 Lapua brass and depending on reamer specs(there is no end of variation in these wildcat reamers) you may have to trim and turn necks down to fit the chamber. They you need dies matched to your cases.....IMHO go with some SAAMI standard you can buy good quality brass for off the shelf. My choice if you are shooting longer ranges ...over 300 yds, say 600, would be the 6.5x47 Lapua chambering. .308 Win is a nice round and good quality Lapua brass is available. Choice of case and caliber has a lot to do with what use you intend to put it. Lots of shooters have tight neck chambers and have to turn cases, this done to try and insure neck thickness uniformity. With current Lapua brass for either the 308 or 6.5x47 that may not be necessary and you could go with no turn neck chamber reamer.
Most shooting score 100 to 300 yards use the 30 BR or something like a 30x47 if they want a true HUNTER case capacity. You see very few if any 308's or 6.5mm anything cases. Group shooting...that's almost the sole domain of the 6mm PPC chambering. In the IBS there are two 6 power classes and they shoot head to head...HUNTER and Varmint Hunter....the only difference being the water capacity of the case. Hunter class has to have a case with the same or greater water capacity in grains of a 30-30. They have their own records however.
The first thing I would do is look into the bore with a Gradient borescope to see if you do have a worn out barrel vs. a bedding/stock problem. If you really want to get into precision shooting I would not spend money on the model 70, but would buy a used or build a new high quality components rifle. Good luck
Thank you for that beautiful reply. I do shoot mostly benchrest, in 6PPC, rimfire and try to do hunter with the 243 until I realized it doesn't group. Thus the rebarrel idea. So If I intend hunter the caliber will be difficult (30 x 47). Thus the choice is a bit difficult. I really lightened up my CZ557 308 Win for hunter but I suspect it still is going to be difficult because the weigh limit is too low. I'm close but not quite there yet. And getting a light 6x scope is not as easy as it once was.
